Using Synes vs Tror Correctly in Norskprøven

In the journey to mastering Norwegian, particularly as you prepare for the Norskprøven, one area that often causes a stumble is the correct usage of verbs conveying opinion or belief. Two such verbs, synes and tror, are frequently confused, yet they carry distinct meanings and are employed in different contexts. This article aims to clarify these differences, providing a solid foundation for your Norskprøven preparation, ensuring you navigate these linguistic waters with confidence.

The Core Distinction: Personal Feeling vs. Intellectual Belief

At their heart, synes and tror represent two different facets of human cognition. Synes is rooted in personal feeling, subjective experience, and immediate perception. It is the verb you would use when expressing what you personally feel or perceive about something. Think of it as the lens through which you view the world, colored by your emotions and individual reactions. Join the Norskprøven Course at NLS Norwegian Language School to improve your Norwegian skills effectively.

Tror, on the other hand, leans towards intellectual conviction, reasoned judgment, or a less personal inference. It signifies a belief that is formed based on evidence, logic, or extrapolation, even if that evidence is incomplete. It’s the mental construction of what you believe to be true, often with a degree of uncertainty but nonetheless a formulated conviction.

Synes: The Personal Impression

The verb synes is closely aligned with the English “to think” when used in the context of an opinion or feeling. It is intrinsically linked to the individual’s perspective and their direct engagement with the subject matter. When you use synes, you are sharing your personal take, your gut feeling, or your subjective assessment.

Expressing Personal Opinions and Preferences

The most common use of synes is to express personal opinions about anything – food, art, weather, people, or abstract concepts. It’s the immediate reaction that bubbles up from your inner self.

• Example: Jeg synes at den nye filmen var veldig bra. (I think/feel that the new movie was very good.)

Here, the speaker is not necessarily presenting a meticulously researched critique of the film, but rather their personal enjoyment and positive evaluation.

• Example: Hun synes det er kaldt i dag. (She thinks/feels it is cold today.)

This indicates her personal sensation of temperature, her subjective experience of the weather.

Giving Advice or Recommendations

When offering a suggestion or recommendation, synes is often employed to frame it as your personal belief in its efficacy or desirability.

• Example: Jeg synes du burde prøve den nye restauranten. (I think you should try the new restaurant.)

This is not a command, but your personal suggestion based on your positive opinion of the restaurant.

• Example: De synes det var lurt å investere i aksjer. (They think it was clever to invest in stocks.)

This reflects their assessment of the action as a good idea from their perspective.

Describing Subjective Perceptions

Synes is also used when describing how something appears or is perceived subjectively.

• Example: Dette huset synes å være veldig gammelt. (This house seems/appears to be very old.)

This is an observation based on visual clues and the speaker’s immediate impression.

• Example: For meg synes problemet å være mer komplisert enn jeg først antok. (For me, the problem seems/appears to be more complicated than I initially realized.)

This expresses the speaker’s evolving perception of the situation.

Tror: The Intellectual Inference

In contrast, tror is about a more cognitive process. It’s about forming an opinion based on what you believe to be true, supported by some form of evidence or logical deduction. It’s the mental act of accepting something as fact or likely.

Expressing Beliefs and Convictions

Tror is used to express a belief about a fact, a situation, or a future event. This belief, while not always proven, is held with a degree of certainty.

• Example: Jeg tror at det kommer til å regne i morgen. (I believe/think it’s going to rain tomorrow.)

This is a prediction based on weather forecasts or an understanding of weather patterns, rather than a direct sensory experience of rain.

• Example: Han tror på Gud. (He believes in God.)

This expresses a deeply held conviction about the existence of a higher power.

Making Predictions and Speculations

When you are forecasting or making an educated guess about the future, tror is the appropriate verb.

• Example: Vi tror at laget vårt vinner kampen. (We believe/think our team will win the match.)

This is a prediction based on the team’s performance, the opponent’s strength, and other factors.

• Example: Politikerne tror at økonomien vil forbedre seg neste år. (The politicians believe/think the economy will improve next year.)

This is a projection based on economic data and analysis.

Conveying Assumptions and Hypotheses

Tror can also be used to express assumptions or to put forth a hypothesis.

• Example: Jeg tror at dette er grunnen til problemet. (I believe/think this is the reason for the problem.)

This is an attempt to identify a cause based on your interpretation of the situation.

• Example: Man kan tro at isolasjon fører til ensomhet, men det er ikke alltid tilfelle. (One can believe/think that isolation leads to loneliness, but that’s not always the case.)

This presents a potential belief or a starting point for discussion.

Navigating the Overlap and Common Pitfalls for the Norskprøven

While the core distinction between synes and tror is clear, the Norwegian language, like any other, has subtleties that can lead to confusion, especially for learners preparing for a standardized test like the Norskprøven. Understanding these nuances will be a significant advantage in demonstrating your linguistic competence.

The “I think” Ambiguity in English

The primary source of confusion arises from the English phrase “I think.” In English, “I think” can encompass both personal opinions and beliefs/inferences. This binary nature of English linguistic expression can make direct translation into Norwegian challenging.

• English: “I think he is a good person.”
• This could mean: “Based on my observations and feelings, I have a positive impression of him.” (Closer to synes)
• Or: “I have reason to believe, based on evidence or hearsay, that he is a good person.” (Closer to tror)

Context is King: Deciphering the Intended Meaning

The key to correctly choosing between synes and tror in Norwegian often lies in the surrounding context. Pay close attention to the surrounding words and the overall sentiment being conveyed.

• If the statement is about a personal feeling, preference, or appearance: Synes is generally the safer choice.
• If the statement is about a factual deduction, a prediction, or a conviction based on external information: Tror is usually the appropriate verb.

Examining Sentence Structure and Modals

The presence of modal verbs or specific sentence structures can further clue you into the intended meaning.

• With sensory verbs: When describing what you see, hear, or feel physically, synes is often used to convey your personal interpretation.
• Jeg synes hun virker trist. (I think she seems sad.) – This is a direct observation and your interpretation of her appearance.

• With future-oriented statements: Predictions about the future almost always use tror.
• Jeg tror det vil bli travelt i morgen. (I think it will be busy tomorrow.)

The “I think it’s…” Conundrum

This is a particularly common stumbling block. Consider these scenarios:

• “I think it’s cold.”
• If you are feeling the cold: Jeg synes det er kaldt. (I feel it is cold.)
• If you are predicting based on the weather report: Jeg tror det kommer til å bli kaldt. (I believe it will become cold.)

• “I think it’s a good idea.”
• If you are expressing your personal positive feeling about the idea: Jeg synes det er en god idé. (I think/feel it is a good idea.)
• If you are reasoning that it is a strategically sound or logical idea: Jeg tror det er en god idé. (I believe/think it is a good idea.) The latter suggests a more analytical approach.

Deeper Dives: Synes in Specific Grammatical Constructions

Beyond simple statements, synes has specific grammatical roles and idiomatic uses that are important for the Norskprøven. Mastering these will showcase a higher level of proficiency.

Synes with Relative Clauses

When describing something that appears or seems a certain way, synes often introduces a relative clause.

• Example: Dette er en bok som jeg synes er veldig interessant. (This is a book that I find very interesting.)

The relative pronoun som connects “book” to your personal assessment of its interest.

• Example: De har ansatt en person som de synes passer godt til jobben. (They have hired a person whom they think fits the job well.)

This highlights their subjective assessment of the candidate’s suitability.

Synes with Infinitive Constructions

Synes can also be followed by an infinitive phrase, often with “å” – a construction that strengthens the personal aspect of the opinion.

• Example: Jeg synes å huske at vi har snakket om dette før. (I think I remember that we have spoken about this before.)

This conveys a hazy recollection, a feeling of remembrance.

• Example: Det synes å være enighet om dette punktet. (It seems agreement exists on this point.)

This is a perception of agreement, a subjective observation of consensus.

Deeper Dives: Tror in Specific Grammatical Constructions

Similarly, tror has its own set of grammatical contexts where its usage is critical for accurate Norwegian expression.

Tror with Conjunctions (at, om, etc.)

Tror frequently introduces subordinate clauses, often introduced by conjunctions like at (that) or om (if/whether), indicating the content of the belief.

• Example: Jeg tror at han kommer presis. (I believe that he will arrive on time.)

The clause beginning with at details the object of belief.

• Example: De tror om prosjektet vil bli vellykket. (They believe whether the project will be successful.)

Here, om introduces a clause expressing uncertainty about the project’s outcome.

Tror with Modal Verbs and Future Tense

When expressing a belief about an action that will take place in the future, tror is often combined with modal verbs or the future tense.

• Example: Jeg tror at det kan løse problemet. (I believe that it can solve the problem.)

This expresses a belief in the potential of something.

• Example: Vi tror vi vil klare det. (We believe we will manage it.)

This is a confident prediction of success in the future.

The NLS Norwegian Language School’s Norwegian Test Preparation Course: Sharpening Your Skills

Navigating the intricacies of verbs like synes and tror is precisely the kind of detailed linguistic work undertaken within the NLS Norwegian Language School’s specialized Norwegian Test Preparation course. This program is meticulously crafted for individuals who are not just learning Norwegian, but are specifically aiming to excel in the Norskprøven. The course acts as a vital bridge, transforming theoretical knowledge into practical, test-ready skills.

The Norskprøven, as a significant benchmark for Norwegian language proficiency, demands not only a broad vocabulary and grammatical understanding but also a nuanced grasp of common expressions and their appropriate contexts. Our course delves into these finer points, ensuring that you can deploy verbs accurately, much like a skilled artisan selects the right tool for a specific task.

Mock Tests: Simulating the Exam Environment

A cornerstone of our Norskprøven preparation is the inclusion of comprehensive mock tests. These simulations are designed to replicate the actual exam conditions, allowing you to experience the pressure and time constraints you will face. Within these mock tests, there are ample opportunities to encounter and utilize synes and tror in various contexts, mirroring the challenges of the real Norskprøven.

Through regular practice with these mock exams, you will not only solidify your understanding of these verb distinctions but also develop the intuition to select the correct verb in high-stakes situations. This hands-on experience is invaluable for building confidence and reducing test anxiety. You will learn to recognize the subtle cues within questions that signal whether a personal feeling or a reasoned belief is being solicited. This targeted training transforms a potential source of error into a demonstration of your mastery. The NLS Norwegian Language School, with its commitment to practical learning, ensures that you are not just prepared; you are poised to succeed.

Join the Norskprøven Course at NLS Norwegian Language School